Mechanism for intermittently operating a member or element



June 23, 1936- e. A. WILLIAMSON El AL 2,044,928

MECHANISM FOR TNTERMITTENTLY OPERATING A MEMBER 0R ELEMENT Filed May 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l G. A. WILLIAMSON ET AL 2,044,928

June 23, 1936.

MECHANISM FOR INTERMITTENTLY OPERATING A MEMBER OR ELEMENT Filed May 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /A M55 BL A C/(W000 Patented June 23, 1936 monmsmron m'mhm'r'rnivrnr ornaarms a MEMBER on ELEMENT *George Armstrong Williamson, High Wycombe. and Percy Holmes and 'James-Blaokwood, Southall, England, assignors to The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio v 4. Serial se uces InGreatBrltain May 12, t

' I; n (on; 74-91-17) The present invention relates to'mechanism tion of the member or element and one or the for intermittently operating a member or eleother of'the latter being engaged by a pawl pivment andhas for its chief object to enable the otally mounted upon the'headpiece during anext'entbf successive intermittent operations of other part of each of the reciprocating movesaid member or element to be varied as desired. ments thereof to rotate the disc and bring a In machines of the kind in which av web or difierent radial pin into position .to be engaged strip of material is fed step by step past a cutby the headpiece. ting device which is operated intermittently to In order that the invention may be more clearsever the material into pieces or sections of pre- 1y understood and readily carried into effect determined width or length it is sometimes dereference ay W be a to the accompanying sirable to be able to vary the feed of the material drawings illustra ing the Same by W y xin such wise that pieces or sections of material mp as pplied to a machine for cuttin r W of different widths or lengths are delivered con- ,of material transversely-4nd p e e ab y n e tinuously from the machine. A more particular b w & n m r of ns of di eren object of the present invention therefore is to Widthv i provide a machine of this kind having improved In t e aee mpany g drawings:-- mechanism whereby cut pieces or sections of dif- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a cuttin m ferent widths or lengths are delivered continuchine with the improv m nts f the P n 111- ous1y vention embodied therein;

With the above objects in vview the present inv Fig. 2 i a Si e e vations-1 view of the machine vention broadly stated consists in mechanism shown in Figo for intermittently operating a member or ele- Fi 3 is a View showing the improved mechament comprising a reciprocable headpiece for innisin indepen n ly of the cutting machine; termittently operating said member and means Fig- 4'15 an enlarged Vi w Of a part of the cooperating with said headpiece for varying the echani h wn n F extent of successive intermittent operations of Fi a side elevational. view .of;the mechasaid member or element. nism shown in Fig. 4; and

Stated another way the present invention in Fig; 6 1 Perspe iv view of a modified form its broad aspect consists in mechanism for mof mechanism according to the present inventermittently operating a member or element comtion. prising a headpiece adapted to be reciprocated The cut ing m h shown in the drawings is continuously and to operate the member or elen general of conventional form and includes a ment intermittently and cam means co-operating cutting mechanism and a feeding device whereby with said headpiece for varying the extent of the web of material is fed step by step to the successive intermittent operations of said memcutting mechanism which is operated to cut the her or element during successive reciprocations web transversely into successive pieces or seeof said headpiece. tions. .As the cutting mechanism itself and the More specifically stated the present invention. feeding device per se form no part of the present consists in the combination with a machine of invention only so much of said mechanism a d the kind described including cutting mechanism, d vic have been shown as is required clearly of a device for feeding material to said cutting to set forth th arrangement and operation of mechanism in succesive Steps" recipwcatable the novel mechanism of the present invention. headplece for operatigg ig f g g divlce and As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 thecutting machine means cooperating W1 h ea p ece or vary" comprises a main frame I on which is mounted 135 32332335; fij i ggif a raceway g which, if desired, may be adjustable The cam device, may be of any appropriate con as to its inclination with respect to the frame I. structionalform and may be moved in any 0011- A cutting device is slidably mounted n the venient manner For example it may comprise raceway 2 and is reciprocated therein by means a disc having adjustable pins projecting radially 0f conventional driving me h nism 4. said out-- from its periphery and other pins projecting axially from one face thereof one or the other of the former being engaged either directly or indirectly by the headpiece during a part of each of its reciprocating movements to cause operathat its movement in one direction constitutes an operative cutting stroke, while its movement in the opposite direction comprises an inoperative movement of recovery during which the web of ting device 3 being so constructed and operated material 5 is fed forward as hereinafter de== scribed to the next cutting position.

As shown the means for feeding the web of material 5 to the cutting device 3 includes a feeding device in the form of a roller 6 journalled on the frame i at the upper part thereof, the web 5 passing from a suitable source of supply over the roller 8 and depending therefrom in operative relation to the cutting device 3. Provision is preferably made in the machine for. clamping the web of material 5 in position adjacent the cutting device 3 while being out.

At one end of the roller 6 there is embodied a unidirectional driving means I-for example pawl and ratchet mechanism of conventional form-so that the roller 3 may be rotated in one direction to feed the web of material by the pinion 8 but remains stationary when the pinion 8 is rotated in the opposite direction.

The pinionfB is adapted to be rotated in both directions by a toothed segment 9 with which it meshes and the toothed segment 9 is actuated by mechanism according to the present invention so that web sectionsv of different widths are obtainable continuously from the machine.

Pivotally connected with the toothed segment 9 is one end of a link ill the other end of which is pivotally connected toa headpiece Ii secured to a rod l2 slidably mounted in suitable brackets 93 and M on the frame i of the machine. Also secured to the rod i2 at a distance from the aforesaid headpiece H is a pin l5 upon which a cam device 96 is rotatably mounted.

The cam device it may be of any suitable constructional form but may conveniently comprise a disc I! having a plurality of pins 18 projecting radially from its periphery and adjustable with respect thereto. For example the pins may be adapted to screw into radial holes in the disc It and be secured in adjusted position by suitable lock nuts l9. In. addition the disc ll may have a plurality of pins 29-corresponding in number to the radial pins IB-projecting axially from one face 2| thereof and adapted to be engaged at appropriate intervals by a pawl 22 pivotally mounted upon a second headpiece 23 slidable upon the aforesaid rod l2 and adapted to be reclprocated by means of a connecting-rod 23 adjustably connected to a crank arm 25 mounted upon a shaft 26 which is adapted to be rotated continuously-for example by a prime mover 2'i--during operation of the machine. Preferably the pawl 22 is biased in one direction by a spring 28 and if desired a spring pressed plunger 29 may be adapted to cooperate with recesses 30 on the disc I? to hold it in its various positions.

Also secured upon the rod l2 in a suitable position adjacent to the second headpiece 23 is a stop 29a adapted to be engaged by the second headpiece 23 during part of its reciprocation for the purpose of returning the rod E2, the parts carried thereby and the pivoted toothed segment 9 to their initial positions.

The operation of the mechanism is as followsz-Assuming the second headpiece 23 and consequently the rod 52 to be in initial position that is to say in a position such that movement of the rod I2 will cause movement of the toothed segment 9 to rotate the roller 6 clockwise, rotation of the shaft 2% and crank arm 25 will cause the second headpiece 23 to slide upon the rod l2 until it engages with one of the radial pins 18 projecting from the disc not the cam device. it when the rod i2 and all parts secured thereto, 1. e. disc ll, headpiece ll and link It will be aoeaeae moved bodily with the result that the toothed segment 9 will rock about its pivot. The efiect of this is to cause the pinion 8 meshing with the segment 9 to rotate and as the pinion 8 is adapted at this time to be clutched to the roller 6 through the aforesaid one way driving connection 1 the roller 5 is rotated to feed the web of material 5 passing over it a predetermined distance. When the second headpiece 23 reaches the limit of its reciprocating movement in one direction the feeding movement ceases and the second headpiece 23 thereupon slides upon the rod I2 in the reverse direction during continued movement of the shaft 26 and crank arm 25 the rod [2 being retained in the position which it has reached owing to its having a tight fit in the brackets l3 and I4 provided for it on the frame I of the machine.

During the ensuing sliding movement of the second headpiece 23 the pawl 22 mounted thereon engages one of the pins 20 projecting axially from the cam disc I1 and causes rotation thereof to bring the next radial pin l8 into position to be engaged by the headpiece 23 in its next reciprocating movement.

Towards the end of its sliding movement the second headpiece 23 engages the stop 29a provided upon the rod l2 and positively moves the rod l2 thereby returning the toothed segment 9 to its initial position and setting the mechanism for the next cycle of operations.

The radial pins 18 of the cam disc I? may be adjusted so as to project to variable distances from its periphery and in consequence a plurality of cut web sections of difierent widths may be obtained continuously from the machine during operation of the prime mover 21. Alternatively by adjusting the radial pins 58 to the same extent cut web sections of constant width may be obtained continuously from the machine.

As will be appreciated the form of the cam device IB may be variedfor example it may be in the form of an ordinary cam and instead of the axial pins 20 a ratchet device may project from one face of the cam disc I1.

In the modified form of apparatus according to the invention shown in Fig. 6 a headpiece 3| and a cam device 32 similar to the cam device l6 previously described may be mounted upon a bracket 33 secured to'a slidable rod 34 similar to the rod 12 mounted upon the frame of the machine. In this form of the invention the headpiece 3| is slidably mounted in the bracket 33 and is provided with teeth 35 which mesh with teeth 35 on a second toothed segment 31 pivotally mounted at 38 upon a lateral projection 39 from the bracket 33. Also mounted upon the projection 39 from the bracket 33 in an appropriate position is the cam device 32 which as before mentioned is similar to the cam-device it pre-- viously described and has a ratchet Bil adapted to be engaged by a pawl 4| pivotally connected with the second segment 31 for the purpose of rotating the cam device 32 to alter the feed of the material. In this form of the invention the headpiece 3l is connected by a connecting rod 53 to a crank arm mounted upon a shaft driven by a prime mover similar to the shaft 26 and crank arm 25 of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1-5 and movement thereof from normal position by the connecting rod 13 first causes pivotal movement of the toothed segment 31 due to the toothed connection just described and rotation of the cam disc 32 due to engagement of the ratchet 40 by the pawl Al and then downward movement oi' the bracket 33 and consequently the return of the mechanism to its initial position; During movement of the second headpiece Si in the reverse direction the toothed segment 31 is rocked about its pivot 38 until it is prevented from further movement by engagement with one of the pins of the cam device 32 when the bracket 33 is moved upwardly to cause rotation of the roller 6 and feed of the web to the cutting mechanism. If desired in this form of the invention a counterweightmay be employed to balance partially the weight of the bracket 33, and a connection for this is shown at 44.

It is to be understood that although the mechanism of the present invention has been described as embodied in a cutting machine it is capable of use in many other kinds of machines.

What we claim is:-

1. Mechanism for intermittently operating a member comprising variable cam means, a support for said variable cam means operatively connected to said member, a reciprocable headpiece adapted to contact with and move said cam means bodily during parts of its reciprocatory movement and means for operating said variable cam means during another part of the reciprocatory movement of the headpiece to vary the part of said cam means contacted by said headpiece.

2. Mechanism for intermittently operating a member comprising a slidable rod, an operative connection between said rod and said member, a disc rotatably secured upon said rod, a plurality of radially adjustable projections on said disc, a headpiece slidably mounted on said rod, means for causing reciprocatory movement of said headpiece, a stop adapted to be contacted by said headpiece during its movement in one direction secured to said rod on the side of the headpiece remote from said disc, and means for rotating said disc during movement of said headpiece in saiddirection whereby said projections are engaged successively by said headpiece during successive movements thereof in the opposite direction.

3. In mechanism for intermittently operating a member, the combination of variable cam means, a support for said variable cam means operatively connected to said member, a reciprocable headpiece adapted to contact with and move said variable cam means bodily during a part of each of its reciprocatory movements and means for altering the part of said variable cam means contacted by said headpiece.

4. In mechanism for intermittently operating a member, the combination of a rotatable disc, a support for said rotatable disc operatively connecting same to said member, a plurality of projections extending from the periphery of said disc to diiierent extents, a reciprocable headpiece for moving said disc bodily by contact with one of said projections and automatic means for rotating said disc to cause said projections to be engaged in succession by said headpiece during successive reciprocations thereof.

5. In mechanism for intermittently operating a member, the combination of a disc mounted for both bodily movement and rotation on its own axis, a support for said disc operatively connecting same to said member, a plurality of adjustable pins projecting radially from the periphery of said disc, a plurality of pins projecting axially from the face of said disc, a reciprocable ing a pawl carried by the headpiece and engag- I ing, preferably under spring bias, one of said axial pins for rotating said disc during another part of each of its reciprocatory movements of the headpiece for varying the radial pin engaged by said headpiece during its subsequent reciprocatory movement.

6. In mechanism for intermittently operating a member, the combination of a toothed wheel, uni-directional driving means between said wheel and said member, a toothed segment mesh ing with said wheel, a rod slidably mounted on said frame, a link pivotally secured at its opposite ends to said segment and said rod, a variable cam device secured to said rod, a headpiece reciprocable on said rod and adapted to contact with and move said cam and said rod bodily during a part of each of its reciprocatory move ments, means for reciprocating said headpiece, and automatic means for varying the part of said cam device contacted by said headpiece during successive reciprocatory movements thereof.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6 including a stop secured to the rod and engaged and moved by the headpiece during each of its recipo rocatory movements to return said rod together with the parts connected therewith to normal position.

8. In mechanism for intermittently operating a member, the combination of gear means for conveying feeding movements to said member, a uni-directional driving connection between said member and said gear means, a rod slidably mounted on said frame, a link pivotally secured at its opposite ends to said gear means and said rod respectively, a disc rotatably secured on said rod, projections extending to different radial extents from said disc, a headpiece reciprocable on said rod and adapted to contact with and move said disc bodily during a part of each of its recip'rocatory movements, means for continuously reciprocating said headpiece and automatic means for rotating said disc a predetermined distance during each reciprocatory movement of said headpiece so that said-projections are engaged in succession by said headpiece.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8 in which the projections are adjustably mounted on the disc so as to enable the extent which they project radially therefrom to be varied.

10. A combination as defined in claim 8 comprising resilient means for retaining the disc in position with any of its radial projections ready to be engaged by the headpiece.

11. A combination as defined in claim 8 in which the automatic means includes a pawl device carried by the headpiece and a plurality of axial projections from the disc whereby said disc is rotated during part of each reciprocatory movement of the headpiece.

GEORGE ARMSTRONG WILLIAMSON. PERCY HOLMES. JAMES BLACKWOOD. 

